May 25, 2006
Notre Dame senior center John Sullivan (Old Greenwich, CT/Greenwich HS) has been named to the Rimington Trophy 2006 Spring Watch list. Sullivan joins 38 other centers on the list for the Dave Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the most outstanding center in college football.
Sullivan started the last seven games at center for the Irish in 2005, while making appearances in all twelve games. He blocked for the Irish offense in a record-setting season that saw an average 38.2 points and 489.1 yards per game. He led the offensive line in paving the way for running back Darius Walker to eclipse 100 yards in seven games, as well as not allowing a sack in games against Purdue and Navy.
As a junior in 2004, Sullivan started all 12 games for the Irish. Calling out all blocking assignments for the offensive line, helping to pave the way for the offense to rack up 204 rushing yards against Navy and 195 yards against USC.
Also up for the Rimington Trophy are four 2006 Irish opponents, with Pete Bier (Army), Mark Bihl (Michigan), Ryan Kalil (USC), and James Rossi (Navy) all making the watch list.
The Rimington Trophy, presented by the Boomer Esiason Foundation, was awarded to Minnesota center Greg Eslinger in 2005. The trophy is awarded to the center who receives the most first team All-America votes as determined by the American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, Sporting News, and Football Writers Association of America. The 2006 Rimington Trophy will be awarded at the Rococo Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska, in January 2007.